Hello everyone,
My name is Garrett, I'm 19 years old and I live in sunny (and HOT!) Southern California. Over the past couple of years I've never really had a normal digestive system. I thought it was just normal and it became a routine thing in my busy high school/college life. After probably 2 years of this (never having a normal stool at ALL.) Eventually it came up in a discussion (my parents already knew about it, but also never thought anything of it) and my parents and I agreed that I make a doctors appointment. My gastroenterologist suggested we do a Colonoscopy due to her not finding any results during a physical exam.
After having the Colonoscopy, the results came back that I was diagnosed with Moderate to Severe Ulcerative Colitis. At first, it wasn't a big deal for me. As a 19 yr old kid, I was thinking to myself, yeah ok whatever just a stomah/colon issue, give me some meds for a week and i'd be over it. But BOY was I wrong!
After the Colonoscopy, I was given my first set of meds. Taking 4 pills of Asacol 3 times a day, daily. However, given a week or 2 I had my very first flare up. After that whole ordeal happened, they put me on 20mg of Prednisone a day.
Throughout the next few weeks/couple months were the hardest. I had a few more flare-ups, had increased my prednisone to 40mg, and given numerous anti-biotics (vancomycin) due to getting multiple infections. During this time, the talk of going on Remicade was up for discussion. But due to Remicade having a high risk to develop Blood Cancer in young adults/teens, I declined.
It was really hard getting used to at first, but after all the trouble, flare-ups, different medication, and hard time, I seem to be doing alright.
I hope you enjoyed my little adventure that was thrust upon me, If you have any advice, or tips, or names of medication that works wonders, feel FREE to share!!! I would love any kind of help. I'm still not fully used to this disease, and I think I never will.
Thanks for taking the time to read my story.
Sincerely,
Garrett.
My name is Garrett, I'm 19 years old and I live in sunny (and HOT!) Southern California. Over the past couple of years I've never really had a normal digestive system. I thought it was just normal and it became a routine thing in my busy high school/college life. After probably 2 years of this (never having a normal stool at ALL.) Eventually it came up in a discussion (my parents already knew about it, but also never thought anything of it) and my parents and I agreed that I make a doctors appointment. My gastroenterologist suggested we do a Colonoscopy due to her not finding any results during a physical exam.
After having the Colonoscopy, the results came back that I was diagnosed with Moderate to Severe Ulcerative Colitis. At first, it wasn't a big deal for me. As a 19 yr old kid, I was thinking to myself, yeah ok whatever just a stomah/colon issue, give me some meds for a week and i'd be over it. But BOY was I wrong!
After the Colonoscopy, I was given my first set of meds. Taking 4 pills of Asacol 3 times a day, daily. However, given a week or 2 I had my very first flare up. After that whole ordeal happened, they put me on 20mg of Prednisone a day.
Throughout the next few weeks/couple months were the hardest. I had a few more flare-ups, had increased my prednisone to 40mg, and given numerous anti-biotics (vancomycin) due to getting multiple infections. During this time, the talk of going on Remicade was up for discussion. But due to Remicade having a high risk to develop Blood Cancer in young adults/teens, I declined.
It was really hard getting used to at first, but after all the trouble, flare-ups, different medication, and hard time, I seem to be doing alright.
I hope you enjoyed my little adventure that was thrust upon me, If you have any advice, or tips, or names of medication that works wonders, feel FREE to share!!! I would love any kind of help. I'm still not fully used to this disease, and I think I never will.
Thanks for taking the time to read my story.
Sincerely,
Garrett.
